This paper aims to examine the role of Russia and its effectiveness in key African issues in the year 2024, particularly in combating terrorism. This is evident in the military and security assistance Russia provides to countries on the continent, using various means, especially through the Russian Legion, which Russia cites as a justification for its military interventions in Africa. These interventions are welcomed by allied African nations that have previously been under Western influence. The paper also highlights the significant economic cooperation regarding energy in Africa, which has attracted the attention of major world powers and has become a field for external competition. Russia’s involvement has led to increased trade exchanges, particularly in North Africa. Consequently, Russia has infiltrated African markets, becoming a key importer of Russian exports and weapons. Additionally, Russia has provided humanitarian aid to African nations. Key findings of the paper include: the growing Russian influence, particularly militarily, and the recent decline of Western influence; the concentration of Russian power in several prominent African countries such as Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso; further support for the Egyptian economy and pushing it towards greater progress via strategic economic partnerships; and investing in the crucial nuclear power plant in collaboration between the two countries.
Africa holds immense importance in Russian foreign policy, characterized by historical mutual interests. Russia has received political backing from African nations in its war against Ukraine within the United Nations, enabling it to break the economic blockade imposed by European countries and the economic sanctions enacted by Western nations against Russia. Concurrently, African countries benefit from Russian humanitarian aid and investments, particularly in energy, as well as debt relief and contributions to Africa’s development. Furthermore, Russia has been offering scholarships to build African expertise. All these efforts aim to enhance Russia’s role in Africa and involve it in various African issues, ensuring its return as a great power through the formation of a multipolar international system. These issues include counter-terrorism, energy, and European markets. This paper will illustrate the significant role Russia plays as a key actor in pressing African issues through several axes:
First: The Counter-Terrorism Issue
The African continent continues to suffer from the rise of jihadist movements, notably the Islamic State (ISIS). Consequently, the Russian role has emerged to replace Western countries in combating terrorism, especially following the second Russia-Africa summit held in St. Petersburg late last year, which resulted in the announcement of security and military agreements with over 40 African nations. Additionally, the “Russian Legion” was established following the dissolution of the Russian Wagner Group in December 2024, after the death of Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who had rebelled against Russia. This legion is now directly affiliated with the Russian Ministry of Defense, serving as Russia’s military arm on the African continent, stationed in several countries such as Central African Republic, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Sudan. It operates from Libya—the legion’s command center—to achieve Russia’s geopolitical objectives, leveraging Libya’s geographic position, and providing these countries with weapons and military training in the field of counter-terrorism.
The importance of the Russian Legion for Russia lies in its support against the Western presence and backing for controlling a significant amount of African resources. For example, international estimates indicate that Russia has controlled several gold mines in Mali and the Central African Republic through the Wagner Group in previous years; hence, these tasks will now transition to the African Legion, whose forces have begun to secure control over gold mines, as evidenced by their actions in northern Mali, as well as acquiring uranium, especially in Niger, which ranks as the seventh-largest uranium producer globally. Russia may exploit its military presence in northern Niger to facilitate illegal migration into Europe, serving as a pressure point against the West amid the current decline of Western influence in Africa and significantly expanding Russia’s influence in key African nations.
Moreover, Russia is striving to strengthen its military presence by sending military experts, as seen in Mali and Burkina Faso, and now in Niger this year, where Nigerian authorities announced the arrival of Russian military personnel tasked with military training and expertise under the umbrella of “the war on terrorism.” Russian Legion forces began to infiltrate Niger since April 12, 2024. In the Central African Republic, Russia is working to build a military base that would allow intelligence operations and monitoring, facilitating the transport of Russian arms exports to Africa. Additionally, Russia is increasing its presence in West Africa by sending 300 Russian soldiers to support the regime led by President Ibrahim Traoré, providing security for the Burkinabé people alongside military support and expert trainers to combat terrorist organizations entrenched in Burkina Faso, thereby enhancing the Russian military presence on the continent. This presence utilizes various means to benefit from its military and security relations with Africa, manifested in military cooperation agreements, the volume of arms trade, and participation in peacekeeping operations. Recently, Russia’s main objective has been to secure diplomatic support amid UN-imposed sanctions against it.
Second: The Energy Issue
Russian-African economic relations have witnessed significant progress, particularly in the energy sector. Russian investments in energy are among the largest, with over one billion dollars invested in minerals in Gabon, Mozambique, and South Africa. Gazprom’s investments in Africa amount to 500 million dollars, while Lukoil’s investments in West Africa amount to one billion dollars.
Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated at the Russian-African forum in St. Petersburg his interest in developing energy projects with African countries. Approximately 30 energy projects are being developed across 16 African nations. Moreover, the Russian Ministry of Economic Development has announced that Moscow’s commercial partners on the continent are Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya, followed by Ethiopia, South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda. Furthermore, Russia has signed nuclear cooperation agreements with 20 African countries and has already established a nuclear power plant in El Dabaa, Egypt, considered the largest cooperative project between Egypt and Russia, recognized for its safety and technological advancement on a global scale. Additionally, 200 personnel from the authority are undergoing training in Russia, leading to various economic benefits including job creation, development of industrial technology and qualifications for advanced projects, energy security, and provision of hydroelectric power. Recently, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak stated that Russian gas pipeline exports could rise by 11% to 108 billion cubic meters in 2024, resulting from Russia’s shift away from the West towards Africa.
Third: African Markets
Undoubtedly, Africa represents a massive consumer market, making it the focus of major global powers, especially Russia, after European sanctions were imposed post-Ukraine war to break its economic isolation. In this regard, Russia has sought to invigorate trade exchanges with Africa, surpassing North and South American countries as importers of Russian goods, which have shown recent progress from 2.5% in 2022 to nearly 5% by the end of 2023. According to data from January to February 2024, the volume of trade between Russia and African countries reached 4.2%.
In February 2024, the delivery of Russian wheat as humanitarian assistance was completed for six of the poorest countries in Africa, totaling 200,000 tons of grain delivered to Mali, Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Eritrea, Somalia, and the Central African Republic. Additionally, over 110,000 tons of fertilizers were sent to Malawi, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria. Russia exports grains, weapons, extractive materials, and nuclear energy to Africa, with over 70% of its total trade concentrated in only four countries: Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, and South Africa. Africa relies on Russia for 30% of its grain supply.
Notably, key areas of cooperation between Russia and African nations include:
- Forming common food markets.
- Collaborating with Russian businessmen to organize agricultural production directly in African countries.
- Increasing exports of Russian fertilizers.
- Developing Russian financial instruments in African nations, such as lending and insurance.
In conclusion, it is evident that Russia’s role in Africa establishes its position as a key player in addressing African issues such as counter-terrorism, energy matters, and African markets. This is also in light of growing global competition for influence in Africa—a competition in which Russia has been a significant participant since the Cold War, especially regarding Africa’s political and economic importance to Russia as it continues its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. This observation is illustrated through the three axes presented in the paper, starting from counter-terrorism, which serves as the legitimate justification for Russia’s military presence in Africa, utilizing one of its military arms, the Russian Legion. Following this are the issues surrounding energy and African markets, both of which have significant economic dimensions and are prioritized in Russia’s foreign policy towards Africa, particularly amid the economic sanctions imposed on Russia by the West due to the Russia-Ukraine war. As for the benefits accrued to Africa from Russian interactions regarding African issues, economic investments and financial aid typically stand out as major returns for these nations. It is worth noting that Russia does not engage with Africa as a single entity governed by a unified policy. Although it has organized what is referred to as the Russian-Africa summit, Russian policy is influenced by other considerations driven by its interests.
References:
- Stepan Yakovlev, “African Expansion of the Made-in-Russia Brand and the Role of REC,” May 29, 2024, Link.
- Irina Deryugina, “Russia’s Food Assistance to African Countries and the Situation in the Global Grain Market,” July 12, 2024, Link.
- Mikhail Vakilyan, “Africa and Russia: Mutual Interest in Energy Closer Cooperation,” April 15, 2024, Link.
